Bruce Lee Letters of the Dragon: The Original 1958-1973 Correspondence (The Bruce Lee Library)

From this book, I learned that reading someone's correspondence provides insights into that person's life that might not be as available through biographies, or even autobiographies. These letters were intended as intimate and private expressions from the heart, to be transmitted to family members and close friends. They were not formal and highly edited manuscripts prepared for a large unknown audience. They helped me to understand this man.I found the following especially interesting.He loved his wife and children very much. He repeatedly mentioned them in his letters.He had no animosity towards the Japanese. He loved Japanese food, found samurai movies entertaining, delved in the Japanese martial arts, and enjoyed his visit to Japan.He stopped in Hawaii (that's where I'm from!) on his way to San Francisco. And he wrote about plans to honeymoon in Hong Kong, Japan, and Hawaii, with his wife, Linda.His agent tried to connect him to the Hawaii 5-O television series. p. 103He gave encouragement to other pioneering Asian martial artists (e.g., Jhoon Ree) in their missions to establish themselves in the United States. In a letter to Ree, Lee expressed this familiar coping strategy, "Remember my friend that it is not what happens that counts, but how you react to them." p. 117He tried to make his television character, Kato, more of an "active partner" of the Green Hornet, and less of a "mute follower." p. 77Generally, this collection describes the development of a human being who made a dent in the universe. Bruce Lee's energy, optimism, struggles, and visions are on display in this volume.

I just purchased this book as a gift for my 36 year old son. He was, of course, a Bruce Lee fan in his youth; and he is learning so much more about the person he so admired. Good life lessons.

So I've read Letters of the Dragon and Striking Thoughts.Both are very dope books, each book being quite a different read... and in that note I plan on reading the entire library!I've gained much perspective on life from reading the Little Dragon's works, thank heaven for y'all Lee family putting these volumes together!

Little snippets that give insight into how he chose to relate to those he cared about- who he thought might need a pep talk, expressing gratitude and hope, the everyday world of parenting and paying bills that doesn't stop simply because your thoughts or goals are lofty. I believe this volume was meant to be a companion to other works by Bruce Lee, which is how I think it plays best.

Great to be able to read in Bruce's own words, what he thinks about his own fighting method, and how he planned to develop it. All his other books were edited by others after his passing. Although only a small portion of this book contains letters about Jeet Kune Do principles.

I personally like it. It reveals the other side of Bruce Lee as a charming multifacet.The content is more of a daily friends or family talk/mail than official teaching or casting.Not very much related to martial art also.But it really adds more of a humanity side of Bruce Lee, how he grew into who he was, and how he lived.I would say it is a nice side dish for those who admire Bruce Lee or enjoy his philosophy, or simply find him interesting.

It's awesome to see Bruce spill his emotions and thoughts onto these letters. Truly shows you how much of a genuine human being he was. This is a must read, over and over again.

I purchased this book because I wanted to 'hear' it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Celebrities often become larger than life and thus 'dehumanized'. The compilation of letters brings Bruce Lee back to earth as a man with hopes, dreams, frustrations, and a very real love for his family and friends.

Muito legal ter uma ideia de como o Bruce pensava e agia. Recomendarei a todos meus amigos a leitura dele.

Bruce lee all books are awesome. As he is master, this book lead me to see inside his heart. I came to know that he was a loving person, who loves a lot to all his associates. As he is pictorized in the movies as tough guy, in real life too, but apart from it he was self developed man. He will remain as a respectful soul in hearts of all human beings till the world ends.

Very few people in the last century have had as much impact on so many areas of our culture as Bruce Lee has. He influenced movies, especially martial arts movies, he influenced fitness training and bodybuilding, and of course he also influenced martial arts themselves, becoming a pioneer of ideas and theories that would eventually lead to the development of MMA as we know it today. Beyond that he has become a symbol of successful immigration, proving that you could achieve anything you want if you have an idea and give and do everything to achieve your goals. He still is the epitome of masculinity and confidence.This book adds another important layer to his persona and shows us in great detail the human behind the cultural hero. Thanks to this beatiful book we can see his gradual development from the young adult who travels to America to study medicine or pharmacy to the icon who still inspires, influences and motivates martial artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, artists and philosophers all over the world to aim high and achieve their goals.You can see his personal ups and downs, financial problems, projects being canceled, injuries, etc. and yet this man never gave up, he couldn't, because in September 1962, at the age of 21, he has already shown the prophetic qualities of his determination. At the age of 21 a man already decided to become the first instructor of a new "movement", aiming to establish a Gung Fu Institute all over the US within 10 to 15 years, expressing his wish to "originate" something, because "... one good idea will make a man what he wants to be."He was 21 and plans can change, the focus can shift, like a true martial artist he managed to adapt to the difficulties and to new opportunities... and 9 years later The Big Boss happened.If you want to understand the equally incredible human being behind the hero, this is the ideal book. Aim high and never give up! Study, learn, repeat, adapt, improve and evolve!"It is not what happens in our life that is important, it's how we react to what happens." - Bruce Lee

Endearing and inspiring!

It's a fantastic book, really great insight into Bruce Lee. Some of the passages from the book really stuck with me and definitely I looked back and re-read them.